RODGERS TALKS ABOUT GERRARD LEAVING... [The only solely Stevie item I will post today, theres enough elsewhere and plenty of years left to post more!!] Brendan has rubbished suggestions that the club didnt do enough to keep Gerrard at Anfield Gerrard announced on Friday he would end a 25-year association with the club when his contract expires at the end of the season. The 34-year-old was offered a new deal in November but has instead decided to continue his career overseas, with MLS side LA Galaxy emerging as the most likely destination. And Rodgers believes Gerrard has made a choice based on lifestyle and his desire to keep playing regular football. “Steven’s statement makes it clear,” said the Reds boss. “He knew my feelings about what he was done here. Hes been a brilliant captain for me in my time here. “I naturally wanted him to stay here. His role is slightly different now, he still sees himself wanting to go on and play for a couple of years. Naturally at this level it was going to taper over the next couple years. “He knew this but he wasn’t ready to go into coaching. He sees himself very much as a player. “When he finishes as a player then we can look at coaching as he is someone who would be brilliant to come back as part of the team. But his concentration at the moment is on his football. “He said it himself he left here on great terms, both with myself and the owners. Anything else that is said beyond that would be wide of the mark.” Rodgers added: “I’ve got a great relationship with him so I was aware of what he was thinking and I also knew the turmoil he was in. “His situation is unique. You see players that stay at clubs for a long time but from different parts of the country. “But he is from five minutes around the corner and since he was 15-16 has been making that religious journey to come in here to play for Liverpool. “He is a supporter deep in his heart and has realised that dream to go on and represent the club. The thought process that he had it was important for me to give him my perspective. “I wanted him to stay, but he’s 34 years of age, a man. He has other things in his life. “He has been making this journey into work here for 20 years. I moved away from home at 16 and travelled to different parts of the country. I know different experience make you a better person and give you greater knowledge. “Steven has had that here but he’s never had to move away. I wanted to give him the respect in his clear thinking time.” Despite Gerrards decision, Rodgers insists it will make no impact on his team selection process, starting at AFC Wimbledon in Liverpools FA Cup third round tie on Monday. “He’s still very much a player in the now,” said the Reds boss. “Hes a fantastic player for me and still got second half of the season. He wants to be a real part of what we are trying to do here. “It doesn’t change for me really. I will always pick the best team for any game. “It hasn’t changed, he understands where it’s at and the number of games he will be playing. “There will be no change to that, I will pick the team to get the best physicality.” Rodgers, meanwhile, doesnt believe Liverpools indifferent form this season and early exit from the Champions League had any impact on Gerrards decision. “I think it’s worth pointing out that in 2014 we nearly won the league because of Steven Gerrard, added the Northern Irishman. Everyone references the slip in the Chelsea game, but we had 38 games to win the league and just came up short. “Steven Gerrard captained us on an incredible run last season and that was a big part why we were challenging. In terms of the second half of last season his performances were monumental for us. “The key goals, the composure, the calmness he showed. His influence and stature on the team on the field, that gave us the opportunity to win the league. “This season will not have changed his mind. He has been through highs and lows in his career and because of the type of character he has dealt with that.”
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 17:38:22 +0000
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